Device for regulating the flow of a fluid, in particular for solenoid valves

ABSTRACT

A device (RF) for regulating and/or stabilizing the flow of a fluid comprises a single body ( 20 ), envisaged for insertion in a pipe for passage of the fluid, in particular the inlet pipe of a solenoid valve ( 1 ). According to the invention, in the single body ( 20 ) of the device there is directly integrated an arrangement for silencing the flow of the fluid. The single body ( 20 ) is made in a single piece of moulded thermoplastic material.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for regulating the flow of afluid, in particular for solenoid valves.

In the sector of electrical household appliances, as well as in otherapplications, there is a widespread use of devices aimed at regulatingand stabilizing the flow of a liquid, known generically by the name offlow regulators.

Known flow regulators usually comprise a cylindrical body made ofplastic material, which defines an axial passage for the liquid, andsupporting means, set at one end of said passage, for supporting anelastically deformable membrane. Said membrane, when subjected to theaction of the flow, undergoes deformation in a pre-defined way so as toregulate the passage of the liquid and the corresponding flow rate.

The body of the flow regulator is usually positioned within the inletconnection of a solenoid valve during fabrication of the latter.

The presence of the flow regulator is often the cause of a troublesomenoise, which is noticed during passage of the flow of the liquid,following upon opening of the solenoid valve. In order to limit saiddrawback, there have thus been proposed purposely built silencinginserts, designed to be mounted in said inlet connection, between theflow regulator and the system for opening/closing the solenoid valve.

A typical example of functional combination between a flow regulator anda silencing insert is described in EP-B-0 356 057, to which the readeris referred also for a more detailed discussion of the problems linkedto the noise induced by flow regulators, as well as for possibletechnical solutions to said problem.

The arrangement according to the known art proves costly, both becausethe flow regulator and the corresponding silencing insert are componentsthat have to be produced separately and because, in the subsequentassembly step, there have to be envisaged two distinct operating stepsfor assembly of each of the two components.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

The regulator and the insert are typically held in position just byinterference with the internal surface of the pipe which houses them.The relative positioning of the two components can occasionally bemodified by the flow and/or by pressure jumps, with possible alterationof their pre-defined functional characteristics.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the aforesaiddrawbacks by means of a new flow-regulator device of simpleconstruction, reliable operation, and above all contained cost both interms of production and in terms of assembly.

The above and yet other purposes are achieved, according to the presentinvention, by a device for regulating the flow of a fluid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further purposes, characteristics and advantages of the presentinvention will emerge clearly from the ensuing detailed description andfrom the annexed drawings, which are provided purely by way ofexplanatory and non-limiting example and in which:

FIG. 1 is a lateral cross section of a solenoid valve equipped with aflow regulator according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a flow regulator according to theinvention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view according to the line III—III of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view similar to that of FIG. 2, but in which the flowregulator according to the invention is without one of its functionalelements;

FIG. 5 is a plan view from beneath of a flow regulator according to theinvention;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are two partially sectioned perspective views of the flowregulator of FIGS. 2 to 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the flow regulator of FIGS. 2 to 5, butwithout one of its functional elements;

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are, respectively, a perspective view, a top planview and a plan view from beneath of a flow regulator, without one ofits functional elements, built according to a first possible variantembodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 are, respectively, a perspective view, a top planview and a plan view from beneath of a flow regulator, without one ofits functional elements, built according to a second possible variantembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 15 is a partially sectioned perspective view of a flow regulatorbuilt according to a third possible variant embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the flow regulator of FIG. 15 withoutone of its functional elements; and

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the flow regulator FIGS. 15 and 16.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1, the reference number 1 designates, as a whole, a solenoidvalve of the unbalancing type, or of the type servo-assisted by thepressure of the liquid, which integrates a flow-regulator device builtaccording to the present invention. It may be assumed, by way ofnon-limiting example, that the solenoid valve 1 will be used forcontrolling the delivery of water to a generic washing machine fordomestic purposes.

The solenoid valve 1 has a main body 2 comprising an inlet pipe 3, whichcan be connected by means of a pipe (not illustrated) to a tap of thewater mains, and an outlet pipe 4, which can be connected to the washingmachine. Associated to the body 2 is a flange 5, for fixing to thewashing machine.

Within the inlet pipe 3 is housed a flow regulator built according tothe invention, designated, as a whole, by RF. Said regulator RF is setdownstream of a filter 6 of a type in itself known.

The solenoid valve 1 comprises a solenoid 7 made up of an induction coilconsisting of an electrically conductive wire wound on a hollow bobbin7A and provided with a magnetic yoke 8. The ends of the induction coilare electrically connected to two supply terminals, one of which isvisible in FIG. 1 and is designated by 9.

The reference number 10 designates a first open/close element or pluginserted in one end of a mobile core 11 of the solenoid 7. The number 12designates a passage or central hole present in a support or cup 13,which is integral with a second open/close element or membrane 14, thelatter being constrained along its outer diameter between the body 2 ofthe solenoid valve 1 and an element 15 in which the mobile core 11 ispositioned. When the solenoid 7 is not supplied at its electricalterminals 9, the plug 10, by means of the mobile core 11, is held by aspring 16 in the position for closing the hole or central passage 12.

The membrane 14 has calibrated holes, which, in combination with arespective passage made in the cup 13, are designed to set incommunication an area A of the pipe 3 extending between the regulator RFand the membrane 14 with a chamber C delimited between the membrane 14and the element 15. The aforementioned calibrated holes of the membrane14 and the aforesaid pipes of the cup 13 are not shown in the figure.

The aforesaid hole or passage 12 made in the cup 13 enables, instead,the area A to be set in communication with the outlet connector 4 whenthe mobile core 11 is operated by the solenoid 7 in order to create areduction in the pressure inside the chamber C such as to enableactuation of the valve 1 into the opening condition under the thrust ofthe incoming fluid, in accordance with the prior art. It is to be notedthat the aforesaid reduction in the pressure may occur by virtue of thefact that the cross section of the passage of the hole 12 is greaterthan the sum of the cross sections of the individual calibrated holes inthe membrane 14. The solenoid 7 is enclosed within a protective coating17 obtained by moulding of thermoplastic material and fitted on theelement 15. The latter has a threaded part, which is screwed into athreaded open seat made in the body 2 of the solenoid valve 1.

The flow regulator RF is illustrated in various views in FIGS. 2 to 8.In this connection, it is to be noted that in FIGS. 4 and 8 (as also inthe subsequent FIGS. 9 to 14 and FIGS. 16 and 17) the said regulator isrepresented without its own membrane for regulating the flow(hereinafter designated by 26).

The flow regulator RF is of the variable-section type, which exploitsdeformation of an elastically deformable membrane, which is subjected tothe action of the flow for self-regulation of passage of the liquid.According to the main aspect of the present invention, the body itselfof the regulator RF is shaped for silencing the flow of the liquid thatpasses.

In the non-limiting example of FIGS. 2 to 8, the flow regulator RF has abody 20 with a substantially cylindrical outer wall, designated by 21.From an intermediate area of the wall 21 there branches off, towards theinside of the body 20, an annular wall, designated by 22A, which extendssubstantially at right angles to the cylindrical wall 21. From theinternal end of the annular wall 22A, there then branches off a tubularwall 22B, which extends towards the bottom end of the body 20, basicallyat right angles to the annular wall 22A.

As may be appreciated from FIG. 3, in the embodiment provided by way ofexample, the internal diameter of the outer wall 21 decreasesprogressively from the top end of the body 20 up to the annular wall22A. Instead, the internal diameter of the outer wall 21 increasesprogressively from the annular wall 22A up to the bottom end of the body20.

The tubular wall 22B, which has an external diameter that decreasesprogressively, terminates in a bottom wall 23 of the body 20, whichextends substantially parallel to the stretch of annular wall 22A.

From the bottom wall 23, there rises centrally a substantially circularsecond wall, which is designed to form a pin 24 having a substantiallycylindrical shape and having an internal blind hole. From the bottomwall 23, along said circular wall or pin 24, there also rise twodistinct supports 25. As may be noted (see, for instance FIGS. 4, 6 and8), the supports 25 have a cross section shaped substantially like anarc of circumference and are formed in areas set opposite with referenceto the pin 24.

As may be noted (see, in particular, FIGS. 4 and 6 to 8), between theside surface of each support 25 and the inner surface of the wall 21,there extends a respective baffle or radial diaphragm designated by 25A.

The reference number 26 designates an elastically deformable membranehaving an annular shape, the central hole 26A of which is fitted on thepin 24. The membrane 26 is positioned so that the part of its bottomsurface close to the central hole 26A is resting on the top surface ofthe supports 25. Maintenance of the position of the membrane 26 on thepin 24 is guaranteed by the presence of lateral retention appendages 24Adefined on the end of the pin itself.

The reference number 27 designates projections or spacers having acircular cross section, which rise with calibrated height anddistribution from the wall 22 to provide resting points for the part ofthe bottom surface of the membrane 26 close to the external diameter ofthe latter. In accordance with the known art, the projections 27 havethe function of pre-determining the value of the flow rate of liquid atwhich the regulator RF intervenes.

Finally, the reference number 28 designates through holes of smallercross section than that of the chamber S, i.e., the chamber whichextends between 22B and 24–25. The holes 28 are defined in the area ofthe bottom wall 23 not occupied by the pin 24 and by the supports 25.According to the invention, the holes 28 preferably have a non-circularcross section, in particular a square cross section, as shown in theexample provided in the figures, or a rectangular cross section.Furthermore, preferably, the cross section of the holes 28 is slightlyflared at the ends thereof facing the inside of the chamber S, as may benoted, for instance, in FIGS. 3, 4 and 8. In the case of the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 2 to 8, each of the two half-chambers defined bythe diaphragms 25A is provided with an equal number of holes 28, namelyfive.

As may be noted, therefore, the body 20 of the regulator RF has:

a first inlet section, designated by SI in FIG. 3 formed by the topportion of the outer wall 21;

a narrowing or necking for passage and regulation of the liquid made bymeans of the annular part 22A, which projects towards the inside of thebody 20;

a chamber, designated by S in FIG. 3 underlying the aforementionednarrowed part and having a section substantially the same as the latter,defined by the tubular wall 22A, the bottom 23, the pin 24, the supports25, and the membrane 26; in the case provided by way of non-limitingexample in FIGS. 2 to 8, the said chamber S is, in turn, divided intotwo half-chambers by means of diaphragms 25A; and

a plurality of outlet ports of small cross section formed by the holes28.

According to the invention, the body 20 of the flow regulator RF isentirely obtained from thermoplastic material by means of a simpleoperation of moulding by virtue of the fact that the configurationproposed for the body 20 does not present a complex shape and/or complexundercuts. In order to obtain the body 20 it is therefore possible touse moulds for thermoplastic material of simple structure and containedcost.

Operation of the device RF according to the invention, in combinationwith the solenoid valve 1 of FIG. 1 is described in what follows.

With the solenoid valve 1 closed, i.e., with the solenoid 7 notenergized, the liquid present in the inlet pipe 3 and in the area A isat the pressure of the mains supply, which is greater than the pressureexisting in the outlet pipe 4. The liquid in the pipe 3 may reach, bymeans of the aforementioned calibrated holes of the membrane 14, thechamber C. The pressure, which is greater in the chamber C than in theoutlet pipe 4 maintains the membrane 14 and the cup 13 in the conditionwhich closes the passage that sets the area A in communication with theoutlet pipe 4.

In order to enable passage of the liquid, the solenoid valve 1, which isof the normally closed type, must be activated in opening by supplyingthe solenoid 7. For this purpose, the solenoid valve 1 is electricallyconnected to the washing machine governed by it, which, by means of aprogrammer of its own, sees to controlling at the right moment (forexample, at the start of a washing step) supply of the solenoid 7 bymeans of the terminals 9.

When the solenoid 7 is supplied, the mobile core 11 is attracted, soopening the central hole 12 of the cup 13. This enables the liquidpresent in the chamber C to be brought to the same pressure as the onepresent in the outlet pipe 4 (which, as has been said, is at a pressurelower than the incoming liquid arriving from the pipe 3 and/or presentin the area A), under the thrust of which the membrane 14 and the cup 13move so as to open the passage between the area A and the outlet pipe 4.

In the course of its passage of from the inlet pipe 3 to the outlet pipe4, the flow of the liquid is stabilized and regulated by means of themembrane 26 of the regulator, according to modalities in themselvesknown.

It may be noted that, on account of the presence of the membrane 26, thepressure of the liquid entering the pipe 3 remains greater than that ofthe liquid leaving the pipe 4. Furthermore, on account of the geometryof known flow regulators, on the corresponding outlet there are presenthigh levels of turbulence. These are the chief causes of the noise thatis heard following upon opening of the solenoid valve in the case whereappropriate silencing means are not provided, as mentioned in theintroductory part of the present description.

In the case of the present invention, the fact that the flow regulatorRF integrates directly the chamber S immediately downstream of themembrane 26, together with the plurality of holes 28 of small crosssection in the bottom 23, enables the liquid passing in the flowregulator itself to assume a pressure that is intermediate between thepressures present in the pipes 3 and 4 and/or the flows to bestabilized, thus making it possible to render passage of the flowsilent.

In the case of the present invention, the membrane 26 is supportedcentrally by the pin 24, and hence the flow of liquid entering the flowregulator RF enters the chamber S in a radial way passing underneath themembrane itself from its outer edge. In greater detail, in the contextof the flow of liquid passing inside the regulator RF, it is possible toidentify a number of successive stretches, namely:

a first flow stretch, which is axial in the chamber SI;

a second flow stretch, which is radial from the outside towards thecentre underneath the membrane 26; and

a third flow stretch, which is axial in the chamber S, which is thendivided, by means of the holes 28, into a number of partial axial flows,the said partial flows remaining substantially axial until theyrecombine in the area A of the pipe 3.

When, subsequently, the solenoid 7 is de-energized, the mobile core 11returns into its original position so that the plug 10 will close thecentral hole 12 of the cup 13 again. In this condition, the chamber Creturns to a pressure higher than the one present in the outlet pipe 4,so causing a movement of the membrane 14 and of the cup 13 into theposition where the passage between the chamber A and the outlet pipe 4is closed. There is thus a return to the initial conditions.

From the description provided above, as well as from the attachedclaims, which form an integral part thereof, the characteristics of thepresent invention emerge clearly, as do the corresponding advantages,namely:

the flow regulator RF according to the invention directly integrates asilencing arrangement and can be made of a single body, to which isassociated the respective membrane, which may be obtained by means of asimple process of moulding of thermoplastic material at containedproduction costs;

the fact that the flow regulator according to the invention directlyintegrates silencing means rules out the need, which is typical in theknown art, of having to provide a specific operation for assembly of apurposely built and distinct silencing insert;

the fact that the flow regulator according to the invention directlyintegrates the silencing means likewise prevents the risk, which istypical in the known art, that the said silencing means may changeposition or their distance apart from one another and hence causevariations in the operating characteristics.

It is clear that numerous variants are possible for the person skilledin the art to the device described by way of example, without therebydeparting from the scope of the inventive idea.

In the case of FIGS. 9 to 11, in which the references appearing in theforegoing figures are used to designate elements that are technicallyequivalent to the ones already described, there is for examplerepresented a flow regulator RF, the body 20 of which is provided withfour ribs or diaphragms 25A so that the chamber D will be divided intofour half-chambers. In the case of the said variant, a single hole 28 isprovided for each half-chamber.

In the case of the variant illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 14, instead, eventhough there are once again provided four diaphragms 25A, a differentdistribution, i.e., non-specular distribution, of the holes 28 isenvisaged. If need be, this arrangement may be provided in order tocompensate for any possible distributions of the flow of the liquid inthe regulator RF due to the different distributions of the calibrationprojections 27, which tend to keep the membrane 26 more raised and henceto concentrate the regulated flow in that area.

The diaphragms 25A, irrespective of their number, may be provided shouldthe aim be to contain or prevent formation of any turbulent or circularflow inside the flow regulator RF. The said diaphragms may thereforeadvantageously operate as a preliminary diffusor and may beappropriately shaped for this purpose, as well as possibly contributingto the reinforcement of the central pin 24.

It should however be noted that, in accordance with a further possibleembodiment of the invention, an example of which is represented in FIGS.15 to 17, the diaphragms 25A could be completely omitted, given that thepin 24 and the supports 25 are, in any case, supported by the bottom 23,which is, in turn, integral with or fixed to the internal tubular wall22B, the latter being supported or fixed by means of the annular wall22A directly by the external wall 21 of the body 20.

According to a further possible variant, the annular wall 22A could havea thickness that is decidedly greater than the one illustrated in theattached figures so that its central or internal hole may replace theannular wall 22B. In this variant, the bottom wall 23 would therefore beattached to the wall 22A or else to the outer wall 21.

In other possible variants of the invention, there could be providedradial ribs or diaphragms between the outer wall 21 and the innertubular wall 22B and/or between the bottom wall 23 and the outer wall21.

Instead of a disk membrane of the type designated previously by 26, thedevice RF according to the invention could envisage flow-regulatingmeans of a different type, in accordance with techniques in themselvesknown, such as an O-ring or a mobile cup with a spring.

In accordance with a further possible variant, the flow regulator RFcould be conceived for operating also as a filter. In this perspective,in order to prevent any possible early clogging thereof, there could beprovided an adequate or greater number of holes 28 within the chamber S.The said holes will be appropriately sized, as regards their number andtheir location, by possibly providing some of them also on the wall 22Bof the chamber S (which may be more elongated than what is shown in thecase of the example provided previously), as well as on the bottom 23.In order to facilitate moulding of the said lateral holes on the wall22B, the bottom part of the outer wall 21 could be absent or elsemodified with respect to what has been illustrated.

1. A device for regulating and stabilizing a flow of a fluid adapted forinsertion in a pipe for passage of the fluid (3), said device (RF)comprising a single body (20) and an elastic flow regulating means (26),said single body (20) having at least: one inlet (SI), having a firstsection; a section narrowing (22A) downstream of said inlet (SI) andsaid flow-regulating means (26); and supporting means (24, 25), forsupporting said flow-regulating means (26) upstream of said narrowing(22A); wherein said single body (20) further defines, downstream of saidnarrowing (22A) and said flow-regulating means (26), a chamber (S)having a cross section smaller than that of said inlet (SI), saidchamber (S) having at the longitudinal end thereof opposite to saidflow-regulating means (26), bottom wall (23), wherein a peripheral wall(21) of said single body (20) surrounds at least partly saidflow-regulating means (26), at least a part of an outer edge peripheralof said flow-regulating means (26) being spaced apart from an innersurface of said peripheral wall (21), to define therebetween an inletpassage for the fluid, wherein said flow-regulating means (26) are atleast partially spaced apart from said narrowing (22A), in an axialdirection of said single body (20), to define therebetween a pathconnecting said inlet passage with said chamber (S), and wherein saidchamber (S) is provided with a plurality of outlet passages (28) havinga section smaller than that of said chamber (S).
 2. The device accordingto claim 1, wherein a plurality of said outlet passages (28) is definedin said bottom wall (23), said outlet passages ((28) extending throughsaid bottom wall (23).
 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein atleast one tubular wall of said single body (20) rises centrally fromsaid bottom wall (23) within said chamber (S), said outlet passages (28)being defined in an area of said bottom wall (23) not occupied by saidat least one tubular wall (24).
 4. The device according to claim 1,wherein said supporting means (24, 25) comprise at least one pin element(24), which rises from said bottom wall (23) towards the inside of saidsingle body (20), and said flow regulating means comprise a membrane(26) having a central hole (26A) into which a part of said pin element(24) is inserted.
 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein saidsupporting means (24, 25) comprise at least one pin element (24),supported by said bottom wall (23), and said flow regulating meanscomprise a membrane (26) having a central hole (26A) into which a partof said pin element (24) is inserted.
 6. The device according to claim5, wherein part of a bottom surface of said membrane (26) near saidcentral hole (26A) is locally resting upon a top surface of projections(25) which extends from said bottom wall (23) towards the inside of saidsingle body (20).
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein saidsupporting means (24, 25) include a tubular pin element (24) whichdefines internally at least one blind hole.
 8. The device according toclaim 1, wherein said supporting means (24, 25) comprise one or moreprojections (25), which rise from said bottom wall (23) towards theinside of said chamber (S), where, at least one portion of said flowregulating means (26) rests on top of said projections (25).
 9. Thedevice according to claim 8, wherein said supporting means (24, 25)comprise at least one pin element (24), supported by said bottom wall(23) and said projections (25) are formed in opposite side areas of saidpin element (24).
 10. The device according to claim 1, wherein saidoutlet passages (28) are defined in lateral areas of said bottom wall(23), said supporting means (24, 25) rising from a central region ofsaid bottom wall (23).
 11. The device according to claim 1, wherein saidoutlet passages (28) have a non-circular cross section.
 12. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein a cross section of said outlet passages(28) is flared at an end thereof facing the inside of said chamber (S).13. The device according to claim 1, wherein said chamber (S) has atleast one internal subdivision diaphragm (25A) for dividing said chamber(S) into at least two sub-chambers.
 14. The device according to claim 1,wherein relieves or spacers (27) for said flow-regulating means (26)rise from one surface of said narrowing (22A).
 15. The device accordingto claim 14, wherein said flow-regulating means comprise a membrane (26)and said relieves (27) constitute points of local support for at leastone part of a bottom surface of said membrane (26) near an externaldiameter thereof.
 16. The device according to claim 14, wherein a numberof said outlet passages (28) is more concentrated in areas of saidbottom wall (23) to which there correspond areas of said narrowing (22A)where said relieves (27) are defined.
 17. The device according to claim1, wherein an annular wall branches off from said peripheral wall (21),towards the inside of said single body (20), said annular wall definingsaid narrowing (22A) and extending in a direction substantiallyorthogonal to said peripheral wall (21).
 18. The device according toclaim 17, characterized in that from an internal end of said annularwall an inner tubular wall (22B) of said single body branches off, whichextends towards an end of said body (20) opposite to an end of said bodyin which said flow-regulating means (26) are positioned.
 19. The deviceaccording to claim 18, wherein said inner tubular wall (22B) issubstantially orthogonal to said annular wall (22A).
 20. The deviceaccording to claim 18, wherein said bottom wall (23) is provided at abottom end of said inner tubular wall (22B).
 21. The device according toclaim 18, wherein a section of said inner tubular wall (22B) decreasesprogressively from said annular wall (22A) up to said bottom wall (23).22. The device according to claim 18, wherein radial connection elementsor baffles are provided between said inner tubular wall (22B) and saidperipheral wall (21).
 23. The device according to claim 17, wherein saidperipheral wall (21) has a passage section that decreases progressively,from a part of said single body (20) in which said flow regulating means(26) are arranged up to said annular wall (22A).
 24. The deviceaccording to claim 17, wherein said peripheral wall (21) defines aninternal diameter that increases progressively from said annular wall(22A) up to a part of said body (20) opposite to a part in which saidflow regulating means (26) are arranged.
 25. The device according toclaim 17, wherein radial connection elements or baffles are providedbetween said bottom wall (23) and said peripheral wall (21).
 26. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein said single body (20) is entirelyobtained in a single piece of moulded thermoplastic material.
 27. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein said outlet passages (28) areprovided also for the purpose of filtering the fluid.
 28. The deviceaccording to claim 1, characterized in that said outlet passages areprovided on at least one side wall (22B) of said chamber (S).
 29. Ahydraulic valve having a respective body defining an inlet pipe (3), anoutlet pipe (4), open/close means (13, 14) set operatively between saidinlet pipe (3) and said outlet pipe (4), actuator means (7), which areoperative for producing switching of said open/close means (13, 14), thevalve further comprising, within at least one of said pipes (3, 4), adevice for regulating and stabilizing a flow of a fluid (RF) builtaccording to claim
 1. 30. The valve according to claim 29, wherein,upstream of said device (RF), a filter (6) is present in said pipe (3).31. A device for regulating and stabilizing a flow of a fluid, envisagedfor insertion in a pipe for passage of the fluid (3), said device (RF)defining at least: one inlet passage (SI), having a first section; asection narrowing (22A) downstream of said inlet passage (SI),flow-regulating means (26) being provided in correspondence of saidnarrowing; and supporting means (24, 25) for said flow-regulating means(26), in correspondence of said narrowing (22A); wherein said device(RF) further defines, downstream of said narrowing (22A) and saidflow-regulating means (26), a chamber (S) having a cross section smallerthan that of said inlet passage (SI), said chamber (S) having, at thelongitudinal end thereof opposite to said flow-regulating means (26), abottom wall (23), said device (RF) comprises a single body (20), saidinlet passage (SI) being defined by a wall (21) of said single body (20)which surrounds at least partly said flow-regulating means (26). saidchamber (S) is provided with a plurality of outlet passages (28) havinga section smaller than that of said chamber (S) and with number ofinternal diaphragms (25A) dividing said chamber (S) into at least twosub-chambers.
 32. The device according to claim 31 wherein said chamber(S) is divided, by means of two or more of said internal diaphragms(25A) into two or more sub-chambers, each internal diaphragm (25A)extending radially starting from said supporting means (24, 25).
 33. Thedevice according to claim 32, wherein said sub-chambers have an equalnumber of said outlet passages (28).
 34. The device according to claim32, wherein said sub-chambers have a different number of said outletpassages (28).
 35. A hydraulic valve having a respective body definingan inlet pipe (3), an outlet pipe (4), open/close means (13, 14) setoperatively between said inlet pipe (3) and said outlet pipe (4),actuator means (7), which are operative for producing switching of saidopen/close means (13, 14), the valve further comprising, within at leastone of said pipes (3, 4), a device for regulating and stabilizing a flowof a fluid (RF) built according to claim
 31. 36. A device for regulatingand stabilizing a flow of a fluid, adapted for insertion in a pipe forpassage of the fluid (3), said device (RF) defining at least: one inletpassage (SI); a section narrowing (22A) downstream of said inlet passage(SI), flow-regulating means (26) being provided in correspondence ofsaid narrowing; and supporting means (24, 25) for said flow-regulatingmeans (26); wherein said device (RF) further defines, downstream of saidnarrowing (22A) and said flow-regulating means (26), a chamber (S)delimited at the longitudinal end thereof opposite to saidflow-regulating means (26) by a bottom wall (23), said device (RF)comprises a single body (20) defining said narrowing (22A) and saidchamber (S), said chamber (S) is provided with a plurality of outletpassages (28) having a section smaller than that of said chamber (S) andwith at least an internal diaphragm (25A) dividing said chamber (S) intoat least two sub-chambers, each sub-chamber including at least one ofsaid outlet passages (28).